The Tribulation Saints (Rev 7:9-17)

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12 saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,Be to our God forever and ever.Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Intro:

Ill. The 144,000. I praise the Lord that there will still be people saved during tribulation times! This is good news. Here is a number totaling more than one man could count! These verses give us the opportunity to look at what awaits those who come out of tribulation. It also affords us the privilege of getting a little sneak preview into the goings on of glory. I don’t know about you, but I tend to get a little bit homesick every now and then. This is God’s way of pulling the curtain aside and letting us look into the things that will happen when we finally get home.

Let’s notice some facts about this great multitude.

I. V.9-12 THEIR DESCRIPTION

(Includes the souls under the altar! Rev. 6:16) A. They are Gentiles– God dealt with the Jew in verses 1-9, now He turns to the gentiles. Acts 1:16 – Thank God, He loves the gentiles as well. Rom. 1:16 B. Standing– Not the church – Ill. Rev. 4:4 (Ill. 1 Thess. 1:10) C. White Robes– Virtue, purity, (Ill. Rev. 3:5, sardis) (Ill. 1 John 1:7; Isa.1:18) D. Palms – Victory, (Ill. Israel – John 12:13) (Ill. Victory over tribulation. And the devil!) Ill. Satan and Antichrist’s worse punishment turns out to be these saints’ greatest blessing! E. Praises– These saints lift their voices together and praise the Lord for His saving work! Ill. What a worthy theme! Ill. We ought to be about the same business – Luke 10:20! (Ill. The OT Feast of Tabernacles – All Nations praising God together! When we are redeemed by God and are with Him, we have reason to praise – Heb. 13:5) F. Angels – Say Amen, add seven additional blessings, like that so good, they say . Amen again! (Ill. Angels are not known to sing! But, they are known to praise – Ill. They have seen praise – Luke 15:7, Ill They (angels) never praise God for salvation! This is a human privilege!)

II. V.13-14 THEIR DELIVERANCE (Ill. Elder and John) A. Came OUT OF tribulation! Saved as a result of the witness of the 144,000! B. Saved by the blood – Ill. Slaughterhouse religion! The Blood is THE ONLY WAY TO GOD! Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 1:5; 1 John 1:7 Ill. Salvation!

III. V.15-17 THEIR DESTINY A. V.15 Service – They will serve God continually. Service never ends, here on Earth or there in Heaven. B. V.16 Blessings: 1. No hunger – Ill. Famine, Rev 6:5-6 2. No Thirst – Ill. Water to blood – Rev 8:8, 11 3. No Sunburn – Ill. Sun – Rev 16:8-9 C. V.17 Joy 1. Jesus Himself will feed and care for them. 2. Will give them plenty and they shall never want! 3. God will wipe their tears away, Ill. The death of saints, Ill. All they saw – One day God will extend his grace in a personal way! (Ill. Us too – Rev. 21:4)

Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.